The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: sellickbhoy on June 18, 2009, 09:26:41 am
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Morning everyone!!
well, it's getting close to Garlic harvesting time
the leaves are turning yellow and starting to droop on a few of my garlic bulbs - but some are still looking pretty healthy
This will be my 1st garlic crop :-)
1. the ones that are turning yellow, i'll lift them now and i'll pop them into the shed for a week or so to dry out - at what point should i cut off the leaves?
2. of the plants that are still green and healthier looking, i've noticed they are developing small bulbs on top. i am asusming these are going to flower and set seed. Should i just cut these off now? and leave the plant to continue on it's way until the leaves turn yellow/brownish?
thanks
SB
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I've just pulled 6 bulbs of my solent white (from the garlic farm) and have them drying in the greenhouse. My others, lautrec, elephant & ones whose names I can't even spell are all coming along nicely. I'd apply the potato principal, as in pull them when you want them and/or are ready to dry them for storage.
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Hi SB, I normally dry the bulbs with leaves attached in the sun for a day then plait the leaves to form a bunch and hang them in the shed and just cut a bulb as required. Re the bulbs going to seed I would cut off the seed head and allow all energy to go to the bulb.
JD
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if we have too much we crush them and cover with lemon juice in a jar. keeps quite long in the fridge. I suppose you can do the same with olive oil or vinegar, just peeled. :&>
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the good lady planted her garlic in mid feb the leaves have now turned yellow she reckons there ready for harvesting any advice please ?????????????? were in prestwick :hshoe: :hshoe:
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i lifted on e a bit early and it wouldn't dry and it hadn't formed a clove and was a waste of everyones time - though it smelled fantastic
but i've since lifted a couple and popped them in the greenhouse - they dried in 2 days
the Future Mrs SB is now trying to tie them up in a nice plaid, but no luck yet!!!
i believe you can just hang them up in a net in a cool dark place and they'll keep once you ahve dried them
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I'd say lift one or two and have a look! I planted mine back in November and harvested them last week. I nearly called on the services of a mobile hairdresser to come and plait them,but got the hang of it in the end...... Ree
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don't worry about being unable to dry your garlic. The Italians eat the "Fresh" garlic almost as soon as it appears.
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don't worry about formed cloves too much, it will still be nice! I even bought one of these lovely woven baskets from Italy the other day (mine's not ready!) and they are the same.
Now that is a nice plait, Mr. Ree! :&>
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Whilst my garlic is growing I use the 'leaves' (? if that's what you call them) - it's a milder garlic flavour :yum:. I hope it's not just me - don't know where I got that from :-\!